Nadma has welcomed assistance from NGOs for flood victims, but stressed that all aid must comply with established procedures.

Nadma director-general Meor Ismail Meor Akim said the guidelines are necessary to prevent supplies from being concentrated at only one temporary relief centre and ensure they are distributed to all affected areas.

“We welcome all assistance from NGOs – there are no restrictions – but every contribution must follow procedures.

“This is not about control, it’s about ensuring coordination. All aid must go through the state or district Disaster Operations Control Centre or the district police chief as the disaster operations commander at the incident control post,” he told reporters during a visit to the relief centre at SMK Geting.

He said Nadma has received only one complaint so far about NGO-donated aid not being distributed because procedures were not followed.

Meanwhile, Meor Ismail said manpower and security agency assets would be increased at any time if flooding worsens.

“Currently, we have 103,500 personnel strength, including 20,600 police officers, 15,640 firefighters and 15,390 members of the Civil Defence Force. We also have 39,687 assets, including 34,092 life jackets, 25 helicopters and 1,172 trucks,” he said.

As of yesterday morning, 20,146 flood victims were housed at 119 centres across eight states, with Pahang the latest to be affected.

The northeast monsoon began on Nov 13 and is expected to continue until March next year. – Bernama